Method and means for straightening the flanges of lids of boxes



' June 17, 1941.

J. S CHMIEDEL ET'AL METHOD AND MEANS FOR STRAIGH'I'ENING THE FLANGES OF LIDS OF BOXES Filed Dec. 28, 1958 t/Mr Arramvn Patented June 17, 1941 METHOD AND MEANS FOR STItAIGI-ITENING THE FLANGES O-F LIDS F BOXES -.Jol1annes Schmiedel and Karl Ernst Paul Jorke, ,.Dresden, Germany, assignors, by mesne assignments, to J. C. Muller N. V., Rotterdam, Netherlands I Application December 28, 1938, Serial No. 248,028 I In Germany MarchlS, 1938 8 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and means for straightening the flanges of lids of boxes made of paper, cardboard, or'the-like.

- In the use of rapid cigarette making machines of the present day,- it is-important to supply parts thereof, warp, and in consequence of such warping of partsof the boxes the covers, when closed upon the box bodies which usually have a shoulder to abut with the cover flange, do not close properly, and not alone spoil the appearance of the cigarette package, but render it openable, both serious objections to cigarette users, determinative in some cases of preference to other brands.

The object of the invention is to overcome these objections, and for this purpose devices are provided to straighten out the warped portions while the boxes are being fed to be filled with cigarettes. Furthermore, the invention has for its object to provide a novel method of handling such boxes and the covers thereof, 'so by the use of such a method the application of the devices or the machine for straightening the warped portions is rendered possible and facile in operation. The methodconsists in the disposition of the cover to enable it to be operated upon. Difficulties heretofore encountered have been removed by the use of this method.

The invention consists further in a machine for straightening flanges of box covers in which pushers act upon the three flanges while the box and cover are held at the hinge portion, and further in actuating such pushers after the lid has been placed in an angular position by suitable means.

The invention will be more fully described hereinafter, embodiments thereof shown in the drawing, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box as it appears ready to be filled;

Figure 2 is a sectional part of the same, to show the warping and non-fitting character of "the same;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a series of adjacent opened boxes in their path to the filling device, and showing one box being treated by mechanism forming part of this invention; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the machine for operating the mechanism shown in part over one of the boxes in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4, partly in section.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the box there shown, typical of the type to be treated by the machine and of the type used in being filled with cigarettes, has a lid 4 having depending'flanges I, 2 and 3. Such a box is made up of a frame member 6, seated in a bottom So having a circumferential flange 5, which acts as a shoulder to the flanges I, Z and 3 of the box lid or cover 4. After such boxes are manufactured, a warping action takes place, which appears from the curved edges Ia of the flange I, and the curved edges 20. of the flange 2. In section in Figure 2 the flange edge Ia. extends away from the shoulder 5a and from the frame 6. Thus the edge Ia does not abut the shoulder 5a., and the lid does not properly close. To cure this warp and straighten the parts to their intended position when the boxes were manufactured, various means have been proposed. But dificulties have been encountered,

and it was not until the box lid was disposed in supported position to an angle to its normal position, that straightening means could function without disturbing adjacent boxes. The new method, therefore, is to place the boxes with lids into a preliminary position wherein the lid is in a partly open position, if the full movement of the lid be considered theopen position. The lid is placed at an angle so that the hinge portion of the lid and the hinge portion of the box may be gripped, to provide a proper resistance, so as to enable other mechanism to operate upon the rather delicate flanges of the lid. Moreover, while adjacent boxes in a series being fed step by step to be filled have their lid'down to the limit of their movement, the lid tobe operated upon is raised at an angle to the adjacent lids so asto be free from the same. 1

' Generally considered,the series of boxes with the lids open as shown in Figure 3, are fed upon guide rails I3 and I4, one box body adjacent the other, as shown by the four boxes depicted. Looking at Figure 3, certain of the boxes are warped and another straightened The box being straightened has a hinge clamp consisting of two jaws H and I2, and three pushers 1, 8 and 9, while the box lid is at an inclined position in respect to the body of the box. Thus, the correction takes place while the box being adjusted remains in the train of boxes being fed.

In Figure 3, the pusher 1 pushes laterally inwardly, upon its adjacent flange I, the pusher 8 pushes the flange 3, also laterally inwards but in opposite direction to 9 pushes the flange of the hinge portions jaws II and I2.

The machine for operating the pushers 1, 8 and 9 and the clamping jaws H and I2, is shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The rails l3 and I4 extend to a standard or frame 15, the rail 14 having an angular guide member l6 for the boxes. Guide rails l1 and I8, forming an open channel, limit the movement of the boxes during their passage through the machine. These parts are well known, and require no detailed description. The cover orlidsare laterally thereof, but contrary to those heretofore known, the lids are placed into aposition as shown in Figure 4.

A flap I9 is arranged to abut against the outer surface of the lid, and the flap at its surface is about the size of the lid. At the free end of the flap l9, which is pivoted at I9a to the frame, there is pivoted at 20 a lever 2|, whichhas a forked end 22, which embraces the shaft 23, suitably supported by a bracket 23a. Uponthi s lever 20 is a roll 24, which coacts as a follower upon the cam 25 rotated by the shaft 23. Upon each revolution of the shaft 23,-the flap I9 is moved once from its horizontal position to its inclined operative position, and thereby, with each step by step movement of the series of boxes, the lid then over the flap I9 is moved to inclined position.

The jaws H and I2 are carried by a stud 26 which is journaled in an elbow arm lever 21 which swings upon the axis-28 and which at its fore end is provided with a roller 29 cooperating as a follower upon the cam v3|], a spring 31 acting to hold the follower 29 upon the cam 30." For the opening of jaws l l and 12, held together normally by the spring 32, there is provided a wedgelike member 33 which is supported 'on another elbow lever 34. This is also swingable on'the 2, inwardly in the direction being held by the clamping axis 28, and has at its fore end a roller 35.

roller 35 has about the same size as the roller 29, in the embodiment shown, and thus one being in front of the other, 29 applies to the forward one and 35,120 the rearward one. The roller or .fol-

lower 35 cooperates with the cam 36 which is secured to and rotates with the shaft '23:. A spring 31 draws the lever 34 so that its follower 35 acts against its cam 35. The earns 30 'and36 are so shaped that the two elbow levers 21 and 34 during the largest part of the rotation of the shaft 23 lag in the same position .to each and thereby carry out their intended functions, namely, to bring the pushers and clamping jaws within the sphere of the'box .to be treated, and'only actuate the jaws and pushers atjsuch times as necessary. V 1 s The rod or shaft 26 around which the jaws I] and I2 turn, is surrounded by two clamping bolts having eyes 38, each of which bolts carries a stud 39. These eyes are engaged by the shaft or rod 26 and are supported thereby. a

Upon one of the studs 39 there is swingably journaled a presser member or pusher lever. 1a and upon the other stud a pusher lever 8a; The pushers 1 and 8 are disposed. in theembodiment the pusher 1, and the pusher integrally, upon the fore ends of these levers 1a and 8a. These levers have eyes 40 engaged by the studs 39. On the eyes 40 there are arranged laterally extending rods 4l, into which springs 42 engage, which are at their other ends secured to horizontally disposed members 43. These members 43 extend laterally from each side of the lever 34. These springs 42 have the action I to constantly pull the pushers 1 and 8 away from the boxes or the flanges of the lids thereof, that is, there is a free play away from the boxes, because the pushers are held away from the boxes. The eyes 49 are also provided with projections 44, in the di-rection opposite to the levers 1a and 8a and opposite to -the rods 4!. These projections 44 project into thepath of hook-shaped carriers 45 having hooks 45. These are supported upon the elbow lever 34 and move therewith. These carriers 45, with their hooks 45 a-but or grip the projection 44, and thereby move the levers 1a and 8a contrary to'the action of the springs 42 in order to pressinwardly the fiangesl and 3 of the lids of the boxes. takesplace when the lever 34 makes a special movement in respect to lever .21, that is, upwardly in the sense .of Figure 4, when thewedge member renders itself free of the jaws ll and I2. This takes place when the jaws press ether the hinged walls of the boxes and also in thetime when the flap I9 moves thelid outof the plane of the other lids.

Finally,..there is an elbow lever 41 which is swingably journaled on the stud 48 on the frame of this machine. At one end of the: lever 41 is the press member or pusher} for the front flange of the lid. The other end has a roller 49 which cooperates with thecam 50, which is also upon the shaft 23. This cam 50 is so shaped that that this curvature is transferred to the flanges during their manipulation by the pushers.

The operation is as follows, and mechanism not shown but within the skill of the mechanic assists in during the parts which, as shown, are arranged in timely coordination.

As soon as abox reaches the sphere of influence of the jaws H and I2, these first descend into thebox and then starti to move towards each other, to press theadjac ent walls of the box and lid, which are hinge d together. The jaws press these together .in a gentle manner. As the pressing action of the jaws H and I2 by the action of the wedge member 33 operated by the lever 34 takes place, the hooked members 45 carried by the lever 34, cause the pressers 1 and 8 to coact with the fiangesl and 3 of the lid, which has in the. meantime been raised into inclined position as shown in Figure 4 by the flap l9. At the same time, the presser or pusher 9. is pressed against its adjacent flange 2 of the lid, by means of the lever 41.

Further turning 'of the shaft 23 brings about the opening of the jaws l l and I2,- and the pushers'lt andffi retu'rnto free position, and the flap l9 returns tojhoriz'ontal position.'- The entire mechanism governing the pushers- 1} Band ,9, the flap l9, and the jaws ll and I2", is then raised from the box, until a new workpiece or box by its step movement is -brought within'its sphere, and within the sphere; ofa'ctioii of the jaws H and !2, whereupon the whole cycle begins again.

the jaws, and before the pushers get into operation, the box i held by the jaws.

An essential to the operation described, is the upward inclination of the box lid, beyond the adjacent lids so that the pushers can do their work without conflicting with the flanges of the adjacent lids.

The upward extension 32b of the jaws II and 12 has rollers 32a acted upon by the wedge member 33.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiments of this invention Without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

The invention is applicable not alone to cigarette boxes but to other boxes as well which warp from their intended shape prior to their being used.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of straightening flanges of lids of boxes which consists in subjecting a box for cigarettes having a lid with depending flanges to a position of inclination in respect to adjacent boxes being fed step by step to a flange straightening machine, and subjecting the adjacent hinged portions of the box to a pressure action against each other while one of the same is being held in said inclined position.

2. A machine for straightening the flanges of lids of cigarette boxes, comprising a frame, pushers for thedepending flanges of a box lid, a flap for supporting the lid, means moving the flap to an inclined position for moving the lid to an inclined position in respect to the box bottom, and mean for moving the pushers against the outer surfaces of the three flanges, while the flap holds the lid in inclined position.

3. A machine for straightening the flanges of lids of cigarette boxes, comprising a frame, pushers for the depending flanges of a box lid, a flap for supporting the lid, means moving the flap to an inclined position for moving the lid to an inclined position in respect to the box bottom, means for moving the pushers against the outer surfaces of the three flanges, while the flap holds the lid in inclined position, jaws for clamping the parts of the box and lid which are hinged together, and means for actuating the jaws to press said parts prior to the actuation of the pushers.

4. A machine for straightening the flanges of lids of cigarette boxes, comprising a shaft, cams on said shaft, levers cooperating with the cams, pushers for the depending flanges of a box lid, a

flap for supporting the lid, and jaws"for clamping the parts of the box and lid which are hinged together cooperatively connected with the levers, said cams being shaped to bring about a timed operation of the flap jaws and pushers whereby the 11' d is inclined and the jaws in clamped position prior to the actuation of the pushers.

5. In a machine for straightening the flanges of lids of cigarette boxes, a plurality of pushers, each having a curved convex surface, a plurality of jaws, each having a box contacting member, and means operatively connected to said pushers and jaws whereby the jaws are in clamped position prior to the actuation of the pushers, said jaws being adapted to hold the box while the flanges of the lids are being operated upon by the pushers.

6. In a machine for straightening the flanges of lids of cigarette boxes, comprising pushers, jaws, a flap, and mean for moving each at timed intervals in synchronism with a step by step feeding movement of the boxes to be operated upon by jaws to hold the box, by the flap to incline the lid of one box above the lids of the adjacent boxes and by the pushers to straighten the flanges in that order while the lid is in inclined position.

7. In a machine for straightening the flanges of lids of cigarette boxes, a flap normally in horizontal position, of the size of a box lid or cover to act as a rest for the same, said flap adapted to be raised from horizontal to inclined position, to move the lid with its flanges into inclined position above the normally horizontal position of lids of adjacent boxes in timed operation, to enable ready access to flanges of the raised inclined lid to be had, though adjacent boxes contact with the box portion of the box having the raised lid whereby timed operations may be performed on said lids, means for gripping one of the boxes, means for inclining the lid of the box, and pushers to pres inwardly the flanges of said lid while the lid is in inclined position and the box is being gripped.

8. In a machine for straightening the flanges of lids of cigarette boxes, a plurality of jaws, each having a box contacting member, said jaws adapted to hold a box in position, a plurality of pushers, each having a curved convex surface, means for operating the same, a table, a flap hinged thereto and disposed below the lid of a box, and means for moving the flap in respect to the table from horizontal to inclined position subsequent to the operation of said jaws, to move the lid to inclined position, the curved convex surfaces of the pushers engaging the flanges of the lids after the lid has been moved to inclined position.

JOHANNES' SCHMIEDEL. KARL ERNST PAUL JORKE. 

